Preparing for 2026 Tryout Age Changes
The shift back to school grade–based soccer is coming, and it will impact how teams are formed, how tryouts work, and what options players have moving forward.
Age Eligibility for Team Rosters Changing to School Grade
Beginning with the 2026–27 season, US Youth Soccer and its partner organizations will transition team roster eligibility from a birth-year system to a school-grade–based model.